Withholding Feeds During Red Blood Cell Transfusion and TRAGI

The Effect of Withholding Feeds During Red Blood Cell Transfusion on Development of TRAGI in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating picture that all the neonatologists are afraid of facing during the follow up of newborns. During the last years, investigators ran retrospective observational studies abut NEC developing within the 48 hours after red blood cell transfusion. In the previous studies, the incidence of transfusion associated NEC (TANEC) was found to be 20-35%.Multiple transfusions potentially cause an increased risk for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and NEC. Investigators have also proposed a hypothesis about transfusion related acute gut injury (TRAGI), an adverse reaction of transfusion, similar to transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) seen in adults.In most of the neonatology clinics, withholding feeds during transfusion is not preferred. But several recent studies show an increase in the incidence of TANEC if the newborn goes on feeding before, during and after the transfusion process, especially if it is fed with a formula. The main aim of this study is to investigate the effect of withholding feeds during transfusion, on the development of TRAGI.

Inclusion Criteria:

• <32 weeks of gestational age or <1500 gr, >7 days old premature babies.
• Babies which are fed enterally well at the time of tha planning of transfusion.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Babies with severe sepsis signs.
• Babies with severe hypoxia and asphyxia.
• Babies with congenital anomaly or complex cardiac anomaly.